The Lion's Pause

WE SEEK TO UNITE ALL PEOPLE WITH GOD AND EACH OTHER IN CHRIST THROUGH WORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, EDUCATION, AND SERVICE

Rector's Ramblings

At the end of the thirty-third chapter of Exodus, there is an interesting encounter between Moses and God. Moses requested to see God’s glory. God told Moses that he would not be allowed to see God’s face. Instead, God would pass by and then Moses would be allowed to see His back. In other words, Moses would recognize God after God passed by.

There is an important recognition in this encounter between God and Moses. In the events of our lives, we often do not see God in the moment. Later, looking back over the events of our lives, God’s activity is more evident. As we look back, we can see the places where God has guided us, protected us, restored us, or been involved in our lives some other way.

The author Joyce Neville wrote, “Every Christian has a sacred story uniquely his [or her] own, even if he [or she] has not thought of it in those terms.” It is valuable to take time to look back at the events of our lives to see where God has been active for a couple reasons. First, it will increase our faith that God will continue to act in our lives, even if we do not recognize it at the moment when God does act. Second, it gives us the ability to share our faith. We do not have to be articulate theologians or biblical scholars to share our faith. The most powerful way to share our faith is to tell people how God has been active in our story.

Fr. RJ+

Save the Date:

Photo directory picture day,

September 10 after the 10 a.m. service

Planning on getting a photo?

RSVP to let the office know.

Sunday, September 3

Holy Eucharist at 8 and 10 a.m.

Lessons

Bulletin

Live Stream

Monday, September 4

Labor Day, Office Closed

Wednesday, September 6

Evening Prayer, 4 p.m.

Zoom Bulletin

Vestry, 6 p.m.

Servers this Sunday, September 3:

Eucharistic Ministers 8:00am: Sara Strattan

Eucharistic Ministers 10:00am: Bruce Schutrum, Pam McCarthy

Acolyte: Danny Holihan

Ushers: Dave Thorley, John Wise

Altar Guild: Beth Crowl, Kathy Sloan, Sara Strattan

Servers next Sunday, September 10:

Eucharistic Ministers 8:00am: Paul Sack

Eucharistic Ministers 10:00am: Derek Gordon, Carol Hayn

Acolyte: Joe Hoot

Ushers: Geoff Gordon, Rick Werren

Altar Guild: Beth Crowl, Kathy Sloan, Sara Strattan

Book Club

September's selection promises to be compelling, with the non-fiction book The Splendid and the Vile, by Erik Larson. We return to WWII, and Winston Churchill's leadership during the London Blitz of 1940. The reviews indicate it is written with an emphasis on the personal stories of Churchilll, his family, and cabinet members, much of which previously has not been revealed in other books.

As some folks like to read ahead, there are four more titles on our original list. After that, a few suggestions have been added, but they are only suggestions, so please bring your book titles to the meeting and share, so that we can get our list set up for the next few months. Rumor has it there may be new folks joining us sometime - we hope so, as all are welcome!

Book club meets the second Monday of every month at 3:00 PM in the family room.

Upcoming meetings:

September 11 - The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

October 9 - The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

Happy reading!

Leslie

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A very hearty thank you to John Werren and his longtime friends Wilma & Roman for the Amish Dinner last Sunday afternoon. God blessed 50 of us ( various ages) with sunny skies and heavenly clouds. Conversation abounded plus paddle boat & pony cart rides, and productive fishing! Our hosts (extended family of about 30) welcomed us to their home with oodles of delicious food – enough to increase our A1C numbers and carb intakes and it was all worth it!!!

MaryAnn Kiesling

NOTABLE - Bob Morrison

Each Saturday, after my piano lesson at Peabody, I would walk downtown in Baltimore to the Stieff Piano Company at 315 N. Howard Street, and spend hours playing the Hammond organ. On one of these visits, I encountered a gentleman, Harry B. Davis, who told me that he had a Hammond in his home. I was impressed! And then he said he'd like me to teach his daughter Dorothea on that organ, which I was happy to do.

So, off to 1345 W. North Avenue, a neat row house, and the Davis home. Dorothea was a delightful girl and I enjoyed teaching her. But, it turns out that my visits were welcomed equally by Mrs. Davis whose husband was often out of town on business trips. She loved to chat with me, and I had no need to respond other than "Is that right?" or "You don't say!"

I kept thinking how nice it would be to have an organ in my home, but this was not to be. After marrying Kathleen (my first organ pupil in Canton), we lived in a second-floor apartment on Smith Avenue, then in a house at 911 Auburn Pl NW, and then 322 19th, a much larger dwelling.

After the 19th Street move, I brought up the subject of an organ for the house. Kathleen, never one to conceal her feelings, said, "You have three organs downtown at the Methodist Church. You don't need one at home." (The three she was referencing were the big Aeolian-Skinner, an Allen electronic in the Fellowship Hall, and a small digital Allen in the chapel.)

As time went on, stairs were becoming a problem for Kathleen and we decided to build in Glenmoor. Kathleen helped plan the design with Lou Ponsell, our builder - a French manor house with everything on one floor. Kathleen did not want a lot of small rooms.

We moved in May 1997, and after settling in, something happened that left me speechless.

Organ Dedication

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 4275 Lincoln Way W, Massillon Oh 44647 (across from Highway Patrol barracks) - at 3:00 pm Sunday, September 24, 2023. W. Robert Morrison and Jared Goldinger, organists. Reception following. All welcome!

September Birthdays

3 Ashley Hostetter, Ronald Rupp

7 Linda Deuble

14 Maxine Kit

16 Bruce Hixon

17 Wayne Paradis

23 Christopher Smith

29 Emily Gordon

September Anniversaries

2 Tom and Sandy Turner

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Prayer Concerns

Vonda Temelkoff, Henry Aegerter, Jim Weaver, Jane Schutrum, & Ron Brookes

Family and Friends: Ray Slinger (friend of Bob Morrison), Don Siegfried, Darin Hill (friend of Derek & Emily Gordon); Elaine Campbell (friend of the Turners); Lori, Mike, & Chase (friends of Leslie Redmon); Deacon Gretchen Platt, & Lisa (acquaintances & wife of Father RJ); Bob Rownd (friend of John Werren & Anne Coen); Judy Heisser-Turner (sister of Bert Heisser); Trish (friend of Paulette Frech); Broden Burt, Bill Allen, & Jim Belamy (acquaintances of the Mulls); Pat Walter & family (friend of Barb Whitehouse); Don Martin & Mark Osterhage (Classmate & neighbor of the Watters); Alycia Geis (Karen Violand’s friend’s daughter); Jacinta Decker (co-worker of Mandy Pelger); Michelle Graber (Bobbi Gordon family/friend); Don Siegfried & Janet Sheatzley-Morgan (husband & sister of Barb Siegfried); DaNay Jackson (friend of Ron Brookes); Allison Cornell-Hood, Bob Patterson, & Anne Higgins (daughter & friends of Diane Cornell); Finnigan Savage (friend of Pam McCarthy); Gail (sister-in-law to the Rands); Lynnda Hoefler & Jimmy Little (friend & son of Sue Little); Theresa & Addelyn (friends of the Hixons); Yanette Pysher (Vonda Temelkoff’s cousin); Tony Donahue (friend of the Boyds); Marc Hostetler (brother of Susan Hostetler); Baby David (acquaintance of the Nadels); Johnny Willoughby (grandson of the Willoughbys).

For those who have died.

For those in the armed forces.

PRAYER CHAIN:

St. Mark's has a group of prayer warriors who pray for the specific needs of those on the prayer chain. If you would like to place yourself or a loved one on the prayer chain, please contact Bobbi Gordon at ggordon24@sbcglobal.net

Prayer requests may be placed on the private Prayer Chain or on the Prayer Concerns list appearing in The Lion's Pause and Sunday bulletin or in both places. Please let Bobbi know your preference. Unless otherwise instructed, names will be listed as we receive them. Please update Bobbi or Katie on the status of your friends or family members as to when they may be removed from the prayer lists.